Bogans: Works of ArtBy Dr. Dave Snell

INTRODUCTION

• A Bogan Background

• What is a Bogan?

• The Modern Bogan

• Why should we care?

BACKGROUND• 2007 Awarded a Top Achievers doctoral scholarship worth a total of $96, 000 over three

years (living costs, tertiary fees and some conference travel) for doctoral thesis entitled “The everyday Bogans: Identity and community amongst Heavy Metal fans completed in 2012.

• Combines psychology, sociology, geography, anthropology – affectionately referred to as “Boganology”

• Interesting experiences in academia as a Bogan studying Bogans

• Current Bogan projects involve work concerning Bogans and New Zealand’s national identity.

• Not just Bogans – currently also working on projects relating to youth and housing

WHAT IS A BOGAN?

• Heavily contested term originating in Australia, probably linked to the Bogan river as a way of referring to local inhabitants.

• Extended as a derogatory term for a range of different objects and people

• Borrowed from Australia and now more commonly used in New Zealand to describe working class (roach class?), heavy metal and hard rock fans.

• Still a lot of stereotypes

WHY NEW ZEALAND?

I would secure cheap passage to Australia or New Zealand and taking ten pounds and my trade, common sense, common energy, common industry for my arms, would trust to God and myself to achieve a happy escape and a good deliverance from that grinding, social serfdom,

those effeminate chains, my born and certain lot in England

(Hursthouse, 1857, as cited in Phillips, 1996, p.4).

As Phillips (1996) writes, “Here was the demographic basis for a rich male culture, fertile soil for the growth of all-male institutions” (p. 9).

THE MODERN BOGAN• Bogan as a community:

Common features of community include feelings of belonging, trust, and reciprocal influence, as well as a sense of loyalty which is often expressed through art such as symbolism or music (McMillan & Chavis, 1986)

• Rituals and appearance

• Dress

• Interactive – referred to as “Community of Practice”

• Linkages to place and movement within, across, and through a variety of locations

• Local bars, concerts, and domestic spaces

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT THE BOGAN?• Uniquely Australasian – and even better, New Zealand has it’s own version.

• For better or for worse, they have developed out of New Zealand’s history

• Typifies many of the characteristics we use to promote New Zealand to the world

• Easy going

• Underdog mentality

• Friendly

• Hard working

• Beer, BBQs, and Beer

HOWEVER…• Important to note that while Bogans draw heavily from masculine and Pakeha aspects of

identity – that’s not where we are now.

• The rise of the female Bogan or Boganette

• Other ethnicities can be Bogans

• Not just a bunch of “white guys”

Photo by Incendiary Photography

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION

THANKS!